Metal fence-post.



No- 805,791. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905. J. H. GOULDSTONE.

METAL FENCE POST APPLICATION I'ILEDOOT. 10, 1903.

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j jrTo QM BY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

METAL FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905.

Application filed October 10, 1903. Serial No. 176,561.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY GOULD- STONE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State ofOregon, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Metal Fence-Posts,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings as constituting a part thereof.

My invention has for its object to obtain a substantial and yetinexpensive metal fencepost provided with projecting strands of wire soarranged as to be convenient for securing the fencing-wire to the post.Wooden fenceposts extending along a railroad-track are frequently set onfire by the sparks emitted from a passing engine, and the sparks of theburning posts are liable to communicate the fire to nearby buildings.For this reason metal posts are to be preferred.

I attain my object by the devices illustrated in the drawings, in which-Figure 1 shows in perspective elevation one of my posts, partly insection. The figure also shows barb fence-wire secured to my post. Fig.2 is a plan section of my post, on a larger scale, and more particularlyshows the means employed for securing the fencingwire to the post. Fig.3 is a detail of the wire-holders used for securing the fencingwire tomy post, and Fig. 4 is a plan of the bottom of my post.

Referring now tothe letter as designating the parts described, my postis made of galvanized sheet-iron of a thickness sufficient to give thedesired strength, the metal sheets being rolled in cylindrical form andthe edges therefore being united by a lap-seam a of the usualconstruction. This seam is about one inch wide. Arranged in longitudinalalinement therewith I provide a series of holes I) at a convenientdistance apart. These holes are adapted to receive wire-holders c, adetail of which is shown in Fig. 3. The wireholders are made of pliablewire and are made with heads 0. Three or more of such wireholders,according to number of fence-wires d to be used, are inserted throughthe holes in said seam at the desired places, the points of thewire-holders projecting on the exterior of the post, while the heads ofthe same bear against the inner surface of the seam, as shown in Fig. 2.The projecting ends of the wire-holders 0 provide the means for securingthe fencing-wire d to the post. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, theattachment is accomplished by Winding the projecting wire end tightlyaround the fencing-wire.

By reason of the strain which maybe imposed on the wire-holders andholes in the post in which they are inserted the holes 6 must be madethrough the seam to and the latter made of sufficient width. At thebottom of the post I provide four laterally-projecting feet 6. Such feetare made of flat iron strips about one inch wide by one-quarter inchthick. The two ends of said feet are bent up at an angle, the inner ofsuch angles being riveted onto the interior of the fence-post. My objectfor providing these feet 0 is to securely anchor my post in place. Ininserting one of my posts a hole is dug in the ground of suflicient sizeto set the post two feet into the ground and also to receive itsprojecting feet. After the post has been inserted the hole is refilledand my post will be securely anchored. The projecting feet give the sameadditional and effective support. After my post has been inserted theinterior thereof may be filled with earth packed down or with gravel,rock, or preferably concrete for the purpose of giving to my postssolidity and strength.

When my post is to be used on stony or rocky ground, it is best to windthe bottom open end with wire, as illustrated in Fig. 4, so as toprovide a sufficient closure for the weight of the stone filling of thepost to bear on and in so doing to help to anchor the post. Stonesshould then be piled around the base of the post about two feet high inthe form of a mound, which bearing on the projecting feet 6 would anchorthe post as securely in place as if sunk into a post-hole.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureLetters Patent, is

A metal post comprising a tubular body and lateral projecting feet,rigidly-attached to the bottom thereof, whereby to anchor the same; saidfeet being made of fiat strips, the extremities of which are bent at anangle; and

Wire Wound around the projecting feet in such manner as to eriss-crossthe open bottom of the tubular body, and partially close the same forthe purpose of holding coarse and weighty material as a filling in thebottom of such tubular body, to anchor the same in upright position onthe ground.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENRY GOULDSTONE.

Witnesses:

T. J. GEISLER, R. R. DUNIWAY.

